Thaiquila

The more conservative and certainly safe method is to have a dentist make customized bleaching trays for you. These are used several times at home, and, again, it does work.

I don't think its several times. I think its something like you have to wear the bleaching tray while you sleep every night for 3 weeks.

Yes, like I said, several times to get a result. Unlike laser which is one time (and then you can do it again later when the stains come back, could be some years if you don't indulge in staining products). I agree that if you do laser and it doesn't work, to forget it. There are certain kinds of stains it will never help with, like staining from antiobiotics. I don't think dentists are ripping off by selling these treatments, and I don't think you are due a discount if it doesn't work. Would you get a discount on unsuccessful surgery? They did the work, you take your chances. Or don't.

One thing you can do is ask the dentist if your stains are from antibiotics. A good dentist can tell you.

As far as the pain, I think that part is overblown.

I did laser, had some pain during and the next day (no big deal), had good results, a year later the coloration is gradually coming back because I drink lots of coffee (not to mention red wine) but bottom line, I do not feel ripped off. But I probably wouldn't do it again. I may go for the bleaching trays because with those you can use them again and again whenever you want a freshening up (the trays aren't that cheap either, but once you have them, all you need for future treatments is the bleaching solution).

Reading between the lines, it sounds like there might be alot more luggage searching going on. Using what kind of system to shuttle people into those stations, who knows. Why all those stations if they are not going to use them?

Anyone notice the right wing OP defended Hitler for being "democratically" elected. Hitler was a genocidal dictator.

I personally think it is absurd, arrogant, and doomed to failure, for the USA to push "democracy" on other countries at the barrel of a gun (if you even believe that lame rationale).

Okay, lets take it to a vote.

I got 440,000 CAD, im 26 and think that I should be able to get about 90,000 THB/month out of that, without going into the principle.

Would you do it? Yea or nay.

I vote no. You are too young to do that unless you have good reason to believe that life expectancy prediction is likely.

If you did try that, I would put most of it into much higher risk investments, growth and value stocks, diversified internationally, and start out your withdrawal at 4 percent (over 17,000 per year Canadian) and increase the withdrawal rate every year a tiny bit for inflation adjustment.

As far as your assertion that you can earn over 1 million baht a year from 440 CAD, year after year, I am skeptical. How exactly?

Hey its OK if they protest.

And its OK if you want to eat that stuff. Grease tastes good, and the world is overpopulated anyway ...

I'm hoping they open Popeyes. They give their chickens Thai massages before they behead them.

Earning money even outside america means you have to pay tax to the IRS?

Not if it's under $80,000.

Again, that actual figure can change every year. But you still have to file if you earn alot overseas. And money earned from US based sources (interest, dividends, etc) is still US taxable even if you are a permanent resident of a foreign country.

Yes, I am sure you can put whatever you want in a safety deposit box. Not sure if they would rent you one if you don't have an account there though.

For laser, you only need only ONE treatment and I believe it does work. Is it perfect? No. Is it worth the money? Up2U. And if you drink coffee, tea, or smoke, of course you will start the staining process again.

The more conservative and certainly safe method is to have a dentist make customized bleaching trays for you. These are used several times at home, and, again, it does work.

Can some one tell me if My income is from only interest and about 7000 US do i need to file or is that under the Minimum ??

The actual amount changes every year as the amounts are adjusted for inflation. However, you do not have to file if your income, regardless of source, is less than the total of your exemptions (and your spouses, if married filing jointly) and standard deduction for your filing status. However, if you had taxes withheld, you might want to file to get them refunded but you will not get in trouble if you do not.

Yes, that is true, the actual amount changes every year and also based on filing status.

However, I think the spirit of the question is that if your income is all unearned income like interest and dividends, and that income is under the annual threshold, do you need to file?

The only issue I have with not filing for years and then filing is that they might wonder about what you were up to during those non filing years. I still wouldn't file if I didn't have to do though. The IRS says as much on their documentation. It wastes your time and money and it wastes taxpayers time and money. However, it can be tricky sometimes to really determine whether you are exempt from filing or not.

Another question for the tax guru, if you do a totally clean ROLLOVER from a corporate 401K to a rollover IRA, do you need to file that year even if there is no other reason to file (if the amount of the rollover is for example over 50K)?

By clean, I mean you never touched the money. The check from the corporate 401K cut to the IRA investment company, FBO the account owner.

Can some one tell me if My income is from only interest and about 7000 US do i need to file or is that under the Minimum ??

This thread addresses that directly:

http://www.retireaway.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=181

You can go to Thailand on a one way ticket no problems. When you check in before departure to the LOS they will just ask you to prove that you have funds to buy a ticket out of Thailand.. All you do is show your credit card and they will be happy.. I do it all the time I fly!

Please don't spread such damaging information.

From what country are you flying?

With what visa, if any?

From the US at least, showing up with a one way ticket to Thailand and no visa or no ticket out, no seat on the plane, unless you get an incompetent ticket agent.

Different people have different risk tolerances. I have a very high risk tolerance and it has been great for me up till now. I realize it can explode at any time. But there really is no one rule for all temperaments. I have never lost an hour of sleep over dropping investments. In fact, I never panic sell either. That's what ruins many. They end up selling low and buying high.

But I do have my opinions also. The old saw that older people should be completely out of the stock market is pretty ridiculous. Maybe if you are very old and know you only have a few years left.

Talk to some owners that are not selling right now. These grand checklists are swell, but in real life, how many people are going to check all those things?

This might be another good business opportunity for a Thai. Someone could develop a database of most of these answers for various condos and sell reports, including more customized aspects, to buyers who want to be extra careful. Then alot of these bothersome details would only have to be dealt with once, and then re purposed for a profit.

It is also absurd to never touch your capital unless you are living your life to pass your fortune on the someone else. The goal is to live well without running out of money, not to die with a huge pot of unspent money.

Hello Lanny,

There is certainly a need for your services in Thailand.

I am wondering, what is your opinion about the need for Americans who have Thai bank accounts over 10KUSD to file the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).

I understand the fines for noncompliance are severe.

What do you advise your clients?

To the poster suggestimg someone in their early 50's put everything in 5 percent fixed investments, well, 5 percent may or may not cover inflation. So if someone is living on investments, this is just not going to cut it. It is guaranteed failure. Your standard of living would go down year after year. Now I am talking about someone with a usual amount of wealth, not Bill Gates types who could make 1 percent and be happy.

So for the rest of us, you really have no decent choice but to take bigger risks. You may lose big, but you may also do well enough to continually improve your living standard. For those that can't stomach bigger risks, I think you should keep working.

As far as buying real estate, I understand there are great arguments for not buying in Thailand. I bought a place for 3 m that would theoretically rent for 300K per year. I am happy with that for the short term. How that works out for me in the long term is just another one of those bigger risks I am talking about, the kind alot of us kind of need to take to improve our lives.

Thats not enough detail, especially about the house and car.

For example, if you bought the condo and bought the car and weren't including that in the 800K, then no problem.

On the other hand, if you needed to pay rent on a nice Bangkok 2 BR in a farang neighborhood plus the prorated cost of buying a nice car, I think sounds tight.

The chickens get back at us with all those fast food health hazards.

Reminds me of what W.C. Fields once said:

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.

(When asked : "How do you like children?") "Fried!"

I would invest $200,000 in stocks(risky, but he is young) and watch it compound for 10 years. At a 8% return, you would have roughly $300,000 in todays dollars at the end of the 10 years.

I am also in favor of taking investment risks, even for older people.

However, one flaw in your logic.

There is no way at all you can safely predict an 8 percent equity return in any give TEN YEAR period. Historically, the return would probably be more like 9 percent including dividends, but thats the thing, that is over a much longer period of time.

In the coming 10 year period, the return could easily be down 50 percent or up 50 percent, though personally I think the chance of such a radical change is more likely on the downside.

Moral of their story, if you need certainty in rate of return, buy things like CDs.

Why boycott them?

Because they are not an ideal democracy and their government has committed atrocities?

Who are we to judge?

I was also against boycotting the Russian games, but I think the world should have boycotted the Hitler games. A matter of degree I guess.

China is a very important country and by running an Olympics, yes they want to present alot of popular propoganda about their country, but they are also inviting the world to come there. I think this is a good thing.

Of course, I have lots of money invested in China.

I LOVED Dim Sum in San Francisco, but have never had any that was very good in Thailand.

It all seems the same as the cheap ones that you can buy for next to nothing on the street.

I don't mind paying 700 baht for something special, but is it at the Oriental?

Hi UG,

not sure about Chiang Mai, but if you can't find great ds in CM, trust me there is dim sum in Bangkok and yes even Pattaya that is as good as and sometimes better than San Francisco. I am also an ex-San Franciscan.

Actually just got back from a dim sum brunch here in Los Angeles, yum yum!

don't mean to hijack the thread from CM, but where in BKK is great ds??

This has been my favorite place, though haven't tried since they got their new chef, who is apparantly hot sheit:

http://www.novotelbkk.com/rest/LWH.html

This is not about foreign banks reporting you. This is about the fact there is no privacy with SWIFT transfers.

ALL, I repeat ALL SWIFT transfers from the US to abroad are known by the US government. This has been happening for years under Bush; I don't know the exact date it started. Sometime after Sept 11, 2001?

So if you do a SWIFT over 10K to a foreign bank account in your name, they KNOW you have a foreign bank account over 10K. So, if you don't file the FMAR, they also KNOW you are in violation and technically, legally they COULD access on you massive financial fines. Do people really want to take that chance? I personally think it is foolish not to file the form.

How efficient are they at sharing this info with the authority that could fine you? I don't know, but they are getting better at this kind of info sharing.

There is a debate about the legality and constitutionality of this invasion of privacy, but I can tell you I would bet this snooping will continue pretty much forever.

Enjoy! (the happy memories of privacy rights for American citizens)

Good question.

Sorry for your friend and that you have to deal with this.

A lesson to us all that a will in Thailand is a good idea.

What did the embassy say, if anything?

I LOVED Dim Sum in San Francisco, but have never had any that was very good in Thailand.

It all seems the same as the cheap ones that you can buy for next to nothing on the street.

I don't mind paying 700 baht for something special, but is it at the Oriental?

Hi UG,

not sure about Chiang Mai, but if you can't find great ds in CM, trust me there is dim sum in Bangkok and yes even Pattaya that is as good as and sometimes better than San Francisco. I am also an ex-San Franciscan.